Fox 40 fork review

The 2010 Fox 40 followed in a long line of proven and successful Fox products. What can you say about the Fox 40 which hasn't been discussed in numerous forums and reviews? I'm going for the 'long term test' outlook, from an amateur perspective.

The forks have been used on a very regular basis, and not just for smashing out downhill runs. They have been used cross country, and even round a bmx track. I'm not going to pretend that they performed anything like a set of rigids on the bmx track, then shifted seamlessly to responsive xc forks, before finally metamorphosising into the perfect downhill forks. They weren't designed for that, and it's almost obscene to expect that much from just one set of forks.

Downhill they are perfect, taking the sting out of any terrain and situation whilst allowing a 'feel' for whats beneath you. Any jump or drop is dealt with easily. My slight lack of experience led to me initially setting far too much rebound, making landing jumps precarious. Once set up perfectly (easy if you're not as stupid as me) you'll hardly have to touch them.

When not being pushed to the limit downhill, the 'knock' that has been discussed at length does occur. It is only when the forks are compressed (usually by positioning weight over the bars) and then lifting the front wheel off of the ground. In my opinion, this small clacking / knocking noise is a small defect in an otherwise smooth and silent performance.

The fork stanchions seem smooth and very difficult to scratch. The lowers are no different paint-wise to any other forks (boxxers etc) I've tried. It's only opinion, but these forks look really good. Even without the kashima coating, the stanchions look great and those Fox decals seem to make the perfect balance between noticeable and tasteful. Riding them, maybe due to the rave reviews and the fact it feels like you're sharing equipment with the best riders in the world, really does feel special.

For maintenance I used silicon spray every couple of rides, and tried to clean off the stanchions (particularly at the bottom near the seals) as regularly as possible. They've been ridden in snow, through water, and over sand. Nothing seems to have affected them. I haven't had them professionally serviced in ten months of ownership, and no replacement parts were needed despite some regular riding and general wear and tear.

Yes, they are expensive, but you do get what you pay for. Personally I've had no issues with them, and from an amateur (probably clueless) perspective have found them fantastic.